There are a number of rules that regulate the height of outlets from the floor. However, they are not strict, thanks to which designers bring to life a lot of non-standard ideas. Installation parameters are specified in the rules for installing outlets from the floor - PUE.
Contents
How high should the Euro sockets and switches be mounted?
The height of the installation of sockets under the European standard should be 0.3 m from the floor. This is considered convenient because all the cables are low. They will not spoil the appearance and allow you to freely arrange the furniture in the room without obscuring the socket. The cords are placed on the floor and do not interfere with the aisle.
The installation height of the switches is 0.9 m from the floor. The distance is considered optimal for all family members, because at this level even a child can turn on the light. To understand at what height to put outlets and switches, you need to take into account the height of the tenants.
The Soviet standard for installing outlets and switches
In Soviet times, there was a standard for installing outlets from the floor at a height of 90 cm. The advantage of such norms is that there is no need to bend over. Places to connect to the network in this case are above the table, because the height of the workplace according to the standards of 75-80 cm. And the height of the socket installation allows you to connect all desktop electrical appliances, even if they have a short cable. In this case, small children could not reach the devices.
According to GOST, the position of the switch was regulated in the same way as the distance from the floor to the socket. The switch was at a height of 160 cm, so it was always at head level. It was easy to find the switch even if there was furniture nearby.
Features of the location of switches and sockets
When installing the connection points, you should choose the height of the sockets that is appropriate for the room. For example, the European standard provides for the placement of power outlets in different parts of the room. This is much more convenient than installing a block of outlets in one place, since there is no need to use extension cords. In the living room and bedrooms, this option would be the best. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each standard in different rooms.
When designing the wiring, such features should be taken into account:
- Set the height of the connectors based on the layout of furniture and electrical appliances in the room.
- Ensure free and constant access to these locations. Do not cover them tightly with pieces of furniture or other oversized items.
- The number of outlets should be calculated with a reserve.
- The distance between them should be such that you can easily clean with a vacuum cleaner in any part of the room.
- The location of switches and outlets is determined by the purpose of the room. If it is a warehouse, everything should be placed closer to the entrance. If it is a living room - near the places of rest. And the height determines the design of the room and the height of the owner.
In the hallway
In the hallway, 2-3 outlets are enough. They are mostly powered by household appliances (vacuum cleaner, shoe dryer, etc.). Connectors should be placed at a distance of 20 cm from the floor so that the connected wires do not interfere with the movement around the room. Some hallways have shelves for small things. They often put phones on them, so 1 connector should be made close to make it convenient to charge the device. If you plan to place a router in the hallway, you need to allocate a separate socket for it.
The height of the switch should be such that it is convenient for each occupant to use the device. The toggle switch is mainly placed at a distance of 75-90 cm from the floor.
In the bathroom
In the bathroom, install a washing machine, boiler, use electric shavers and hair dryers. Depending on the configuration of the devices enough 2-3 places to connect to the power grid. The height of the placement of outlets will depend on the connected appliances. For example, a hair dryer and razor is convenient to use when the plug is turned on near the mirror at waist level. The washing machine and the boiler are connected so that the cable reaches the socket. Therefore, for the water heater socket is placed at a height of 140-170 cm.
When installing devices, it is necessary to observe safety precautions, so you can not place the wiring too low. So, if there is an overflow of water, the wires will remain unharmed. According to the standards for height, they must be installed no lower than 15 cm from the flooring and 60 cm from the faucets. The switch is placed in the corridor, because the room is very humid. It is often combined with a toggle switch for the toilet.
In the living room
In the living room, more often than in other rooms, rearrange the furniture and install most electrical appliances. Therefore, the height of outlets above the floor should be chosen based on their purpose in the range of 15-30 cm. It is desirable to mount them in all corners of the room, so that in the future you do not have to pull extension cords.
The main devices in the living room are:
- TV;
- home theater;
- satellite receiver;
- sconces or floor lamps;
- air conditioner;
- Wi-Fi router;
- computer;
- speakers;
- additional devices for the computer, etc.
This requires a large number of outlets to ensure that all devices are powered at the same time. Therefore, you should take care of placing 1-2 outlets on each wall. It is not desirable to install them above 30 cm from the flooring, so as not to clutter the room with wires and not spoil its appearance. It is necessary to hide them from view as much as possible.
When laying electrical wiring, it is necessary to take into account the placement of furniture and places where devices will be connected. Some devices require constant power, while others are turned on periodically. This should also be taken into account when wiring. It is not necessary to place a block of more than 2-3 outlets, so as not to spoil the design of the room. Switches in this room can be installed as the European standard, and by the old standards. It all depends on the design of the room.
In the kitchen
Most of the appliances are in the kitchen. As the number of electrical appliances increases every year, there is a need to place and connect them. The main appliances are:
- refrigerator;
- microwave oven;
- cooker hood;
- dishwasher;
- multicooker;
- TV.
Often these devices are connected all the time. Additional uses include:
- blender;
- kettle;
- toaster;
- juicer;
- coffee maker;
- mixer, etc.
The number of outlets is determined by the frequency of their use. The main condition in this situation is convenient access to the network. Therefore, it is now popular to install electrical outlets directly in the furniture. Thus they can be hidden from view and made accessible. But the sockets for built-in appliances must be easily accessible, as well as the switches.
The height of the connection point for the refrigerator is 15-20 cm. If you plan to install a microwave oven on it, the level is raised to 60-80 cm. When the washing machine is placed in the kitchen, the power cable is laid no higher than 30 cm. For local lighting fixtures, sockets are installed at a distance of up to 10 cm above them.
If the TV is mounted with brackets, the height of the connection point can be 180-200 cm from the floor surface. And for small devices sockets are mounted on the work surface. For powerful appliances it is desirable to make a separate power line to prevent burning out wiring. Button of the switch is placed at waist level, so it was comfortable to turn on each occupant.
In the bedroom
In the bedroom there are enough four places to connect to the power grid. If the room is planned to place a TV receiver, you should also provide for its power supply, and related devices. The height of outlets in the bedroom should not be more than 30 cm from the floor. An exception may be the installation of an air conditioner. For it is desirable to make a socket next to the device.
Table lamps, sconces or floor lamps are often installed next to the bed. So you need to make 2-3 connectors on each side. If you will often use a laptop, you should also provide a place for connection. When there is a dressing table in the bedroom, near it often install a local light and include a curler, straightener and other appliances. Therefore, there should be easy access to the connectors.
For standard bedrooms choose to place the switch at a height of 90 cm. If the room has a complex design, it should provide for the installation of toggle switches for several keys or their placement in different parts of the bedroom.
In a child's room
In a child's room, you should place 2-4 electric plugs. The main equipment is a lamp, and for older children - a computer. It is necessary to ensure that all stationary devices are connected and leave 1-2 sockets free. They used to be made at a great height so that a child could not reach them. Now the products are equipped with safety devices, so they can be mounted according to the standards.
The switch should be located at a height of 75-90 cm so that a child can easily reach it. It is important that a chifforobe or open interior door does not obscure it. A child should be able to easily and quickly reach the switch, so it is convenient to place it on the same side as the door handle. In the entrance area is placed socket for household appliances so that it covers the open sash. The socket is used to connect a vacuum cleaner, heater or other devices. The height can be 10-30 cm.
In the workroom.
Here there can be many electrical appliances, as in the living room. On the table are often placed:
- a lamp;
- computer;
- speakers;
- scanner;
- printer, etc.
Additional appliances are:
- air conditioner;
- sconces or floor lamps.
Therefore, at least 6 mains plugs should be installed. It is recommended to mount them no higher than 30 cm from the floor to avoid cluttering the wires. If a soldering iron and other power tools are used on the work surface, then it is recommended to install the socket at a height of no more than 15 cm above the level of the tabletop.
Since there are no clear laws governing the placement of places of connection to the network, you should install them, based on convenience and design.
Related articles:
